Louisa May Alcott was an American author best known for her timeless classic novel ‘Little Women.’ She was a free-spirited child who desired to become a successful actress and travel the world, but her family obligations kept her occupied for the majority of her life. In her youth, she vowed to “be wealthy, famous, and happy before she dies,” which she undoubtedly accomplished. Her father was an abolitionist who struggled to provide adequately for his family, making poverty her greatest adversary. Before she began writing, she supported her family by working as a housemaid, teacher, and nurse. It was through the publication of her novel, ‘Little Women,’ that she gained popularity and notoriety in society. It was inspired by her own experiences, her relationship with her sisters, and their shared journey through childhood and into womanhood. Prior to ‘Little Women,’ she wrote several short stories for young adults, but none of them brought her the wealth or glory that ‘Little Women’ did. Although she became wealthy and famous as a result, her family’s problems never seemed to resolve completely; her personal desires were always trumped by her family’s emotional and financial needs. Since childhood, writing had been her passion, and she eventually established herself as a literary genius through her novels.
Childhood & Adolescence
She was born in Germantown on November 29, 1832, to transcendentalist and educator Amos Bronson Alcott and social worker Abby May.
She was the second youngest sister in a family of four; the eldest was Anna Bronson Alcott, and the two younger ones were Elizabeth Sewall Alcott and Abigail May Alcott.
Due to her father’s impractical nature, the family was unable to support itself. Her father was acquainted with Ralph Waldo Emerson, Theodore Parker, and Henry David Thoreau, all of whom contributed to her development of a sense of humor.
Her family spent some time in the Utopian Fruitlands, a Massachusetts-based agrarian commune founded by her. She received the majority of her early education from her father and also from influential friends of her father.
Career of Louisa
She began working early in life to support her family. She held positions as governess, teacher, domestic helper, seamstress, and writer.
She served as a nurse during the Civil War in 1860, but contracted typhoid and was sent home due to unsanitary conditions. Following her return, she wrote her first best-selling book, ‘Hospital Sketches,’ a collection of letters depicting her encounters and experiences in the hospital.
She also wrote some passionate novels for young adults under the pen name ‘A.M. Bernard’, including ‘Moods’ (1865), ‘A Long Fatal Chase’ (1866), and ‘Behind the Mask’ (1866), but was unable to gain popularity with them.
She published the novel ‘Little Women’ in 1868. It was a fictionalized account of her youth that became an instant hit. The novel received widespread acclaim for its realism and originality.
In 1871, she published her second novel, ‘Little Men,’ as the second installment of an unofficial trilogy that began with ‘Little Women.’ It was inspired by the death of Anna’s brother-in-law.
She also wrote a number of other novels, including ‘An Old-Fashioned Girl’ (1870), ‘Eight Cousins’ (1875), and ‘Rose in Bloom’ (1876), all of which received widespread acclaim and praise.
In 1873, she published a short story, “Transcendental Wild Oats,” in which she described her family’s experiences at ‘Fruitlands,’ a Utopian experiment in “plain living and high thinking” in the town of Harvard, Massachusetts.
She was also a feminist, advocating for women’s suffrage and demanding their equality in society in 1879. In 1886, she concluded the trilogy with ‘Jo’s Boys,’ which chronicled the lives of Jo’s children, who were introduced in the preceding book ‘Little Men’. It is the sole Alcott novel that has not been adapted into a film.
Significant Works of Louisa
Her 1868 novel, ‘Little Women,’ was her magnum opus, bringing her the fame and fortune she had dreamed of since childhood. Inspired by her own childhood, this engrossing story of four sisters ‘Meg’, ‘Jo’, ‘Beth’, and ‘Amy’ and their journey through life’s obstacles resonated with a broad section of society, establishing her identity as a novelist.
‘Little Men’, her 1871 novel, was also a critical and commercial success. It was the second installment of a trilogy. In 1879, she became the first woman to vote in a Concord, Massachusetts, school board election.
Awards and Accomplishments
The 1994 film ‘Little Women,’ based on her eponymous novel, was a critical and commercial success, earning three Academy Award nominations.
Personal History and Legacies
As an individual, her ambition to be an actress was dashed by her father’s inability to earn a living, and she began working at a young age.
She never married because her love life was never blossoming; she described herself as a woman who never encountered a romantic lover. Her entire life was spent tending to her family’s needs.
She was extremely close to her sisters and devoted her life to upholding her obligations to them. Tragically, one of her sisters died at a young age.
She supported the children of a widowed sister financially and cared for the child of another sister who died shortly after giving birth.
She died of a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father died. She was laid to rest in Concord’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on a hillside known as ‘Author’s Ridge’.
Estimated Net Worth
Louisa is one of the wealthiest novelists and is ranked as one of the most popular novelists. Louisa May Alcott’s net worth is estimated to be around $4Million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.